New museum in the Stone Shed

The Far North has a brand new museum, in Paihia’s historic Stone Shed.

The museum, which will open from 9am to 5pm seven days a week free, is behind Williams House/the Paihia Library, in Williams Rd.

Artefacts in a display cabinet illustrate the shed’s many uses over the years, which are thought to have included serving as the town’s first school, a trading house and a garden shed.

The exact date of construction date is unknown, but it is thought to date from the earliest years of the Paihia mission.

The Friends of Williams House worked for many years on the project, overseen by Heritage New Zealand and Far North District Council staff. Workshop e, the same company that created the displays at Waitangi Museum, designed the exhibition, while the Williams family provided photos and items for display.

The project was funded by the volunteers who sell second-hand books from the Williams House garage and a grant from Foundation North.

The museum will be formally opened by Mayor John Carter at 10am on Saturday.